COPD Emergency Department Visits by County, Age-adjusted Rates, 2018-2022,

Why Is This Important?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that obstructs lung airflow, making it difficult to breathe. It primarily includes two conditions: chronic bronchitis, which involves long-term inflammation of the airways and excessive mucus production, and emphysema, which involves damage to the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs. Symptoms of COPD can include persistent cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness. It is commonly caused by long-term exposure to irritants such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, chemical fumes, and dust. COPD is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In 2021, 138,825 people in the United States died from COPD, making it the sixth overall leading cause of death and the fifth disease-related cause of death, behind heart disease, cancer, COVID-19, accidents, and stroke (American Lung Association). According to the American Lung Association, COPD is a leading cause of hospitalization in the United States, with over 335,000 admissions in 2020. In 2020, there were 925,000 COPD emergency department visits, or 279.1 per 100,000.

Definition

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is a chronic lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. A COPD Emergency Department (ED) visit is a trip to the ED by a New Mexico resident that occurs with COPD listed as the primary (first-listed) diagnosis of a New Mexico resident. A COPD diagnosis includes the ICD-9-CM codes 490-492 or 496 or 493.2* when 490-492 or 496 is present on any secondary diagnoses, and, after 10/2015, the ICD-10-CM codes J40-J44. Measures shown include: 1) annual age-adjusted rates for COPD ED visits; 2) annual age-adjusted rates for COPD ED visits among persons 25 and over; 3) age-adjusted rates for COPD ED visits by county; 4) age-adjusted rates for COPD ED visits among persons 25 and over by county; and 5) number of COPD ED visits by sex for age 25 and over. Rates are per 10,000 population. Age-adjustment by the direct method to the 2000 US standard population.

Data Notes

Data Sources

• Emergency Department (ED) dataset, Health Systems Epidemiology Program, New Mexico Department of Health
• New Mexico Population Estimates: University of New Mexico, Geospatial and Population Studies (GPS) Program.
  (http://gps.unm.edu/)

How the Measure is Calculated

• Numerator:

  Number of all ED visits where COPD is the primary (first-listed) diagnosis, including those admitted as inpatients in that hospital or transferred to another hospital.

• Denominator:

  Estimated total number of New Mexico residents in a specified population over a specified time period (mid-year estimates).

Data Issues

• Emergency Department (ED) dataset

  ICD Stands for 'International Classification of Diseases.' It is a coding system maintained by the World Health Organization and the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics and is used to classify diagnoses for hospital and emergency department visits. This coding system underwent a major revision from version 9 (ICD9) to version 10 that went into effect October 1, 2015. In most cases, the two versions do not provide comparable results and the two time periods should not be combined in a trend line. The emergency department data include visits to NON-FEDERAL HOSPITALS only. Visits to Veteran's Administration (VA) facilities and Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities have not been included, unless specifically stated otherwise. The data include all emergency department visits. An individual will be counted more than once if he or she had more than one visit over the time period. The emergency department dataset includes only New Mexico residents hospitalized in New Mexico hospitals, and may undercount injury ED visits of New Mexico residents. In cases of serious injuries near the state borders, oftentimes patients will be transported to a nearby trauma center in the bordering state.

• New Mexico Population Estimates

  All population estimates apply to July 1 of the selected year. These estimates are considered the most accurate estimates for the state of New Mexico and should match those found on the University of New Mexico Geospatial and Population Studies website. Estimates include decimal fractions. Census tract population estimates were summed to produce County and Small Area population estimates. Population estimate totals may vary due to rounding. Population estimates for previous years are occasionally revised as new information becomes available. When publishing trend data, always be sure that your rates for earlier years match current rates on NM-IBIS that have been calculated with the most up-to-date population estimates.

Health Topic Pages Related to: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Emergency Department Visits

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease